Inaugural Hoopin' with Heroes community event draws crowd, inspires unity
by Zach Mason, director of communications
The Basketball Embassy hosted its first annual Hoopin’ with Heroes community event Saturday, Sept. 11, bringing police officers and first responders together with youth on San Antonio’s west side.
“The San Antonio community, like so many others in the world right now, could use a little more togetherness, a little more unity,” The Basketball Embassy president Chris Dial said. “The Hoopin’ with Heroes event was dedicated to honor the civil servants, the police, firefighters and other first responders that serve our local community, but also honor the local relationships built between those who serve and those who are served.”
The morning began with a solemn remembrance of the fallen heroes from the Sept. 11 attacks 20 years ago and a tree dedication ceremony hosted by the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department. After meeting with District 6 Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda and SAPR Director Homer Garcia III, attendees migrated over to the basketball court, where San Antonio chief of police William McManus provided opening remarks.
The chief then joined participants on the court to take a few jump shots.
Kids and parents from around the community filtered in and out throughout the day, joining in on mini-games and activities, free hot dogs and beverages, and mingling with local first responders.
”To be able to use the city’s favorite game of basketball to bring a bunch of people together on a weekend in a park on a beautiful day in San Antonio is a great thing,” Dial said. “Our hope is to let events like this serve as reminders that even with the divisive nature of some of our current societal dynamics, we can come together and really spend time reflecting on how fortunate we all are to have people like our civil servants in our community.”
Check out some photos from the event in the gallery below:
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